'Visa to Miandad doesn't change Dawood's status'

The government on Friday made it clear that the issuance of visa to former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad, a relative of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, does not reflect any change in the status of the Mumbai serial bomb blasts case's mastermind as far as India is concerned.

Miandad's son Junaid is married to Mahrukh, the daughter of Dawood, who is wanted in India in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.

"There has not been any change as far as Dawood Ibrahim is concerned. His position remains exactly the same," a top government source said.

The remarks came amidst criticism by BJP and Shiv Sena over the issuance of visa to Miandad.

The source said Miandad, whose son married the fugitive terrorist's daughter, was not on India's negative list and added that he was given a visa in April 2011 also.

However, he did not come last time. The former Pakistani captain has been granted an Indian visa that will allow him to watch the final one-day match of the ongoing limited-over cricket series between the two countries in New Delhi on January 6.

However, Miandad cancelled his visit this time as well.

According to Indian security agencies, Dawood is believed to be be staying in Karachi in Pakistan where he had fled to after the serial bomb blasts.

Asked why he gave visa to Miandad, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde shot back "I have not given visa. My officer or my mission must have given".